Ceol na nGael
Music, news and sports from Ireland, Sundays from Noon-4pm.
The most popular Irish radio program in New York, Ceol na nGael ("Music of the Irish") began as the brainchild of two Fordham students, Gerry Murphy and Mary Maguire, back in 1974. Over the years it has continued to be hosted by students, who have kept the tradition alive.
Tune in to 90.7 FM every Sunday between 12 noon and 4pm to hear all kinds of Irish music, often accompanied by dedications, and to stay connected through the community bulletin boards. Two of the program's highlights are the weekly news from Ireland, with Louise Williams (formerly reported for years by Declan O'Byrne, may he rest in peace) at 2pm, and the sports from Ireland with Brendan Tier, immediately following.
Many of the Ceol na nGael hosts over the years continue to work in the media, long after they've graduated. The program was hosted in the mid-'80s by Patti Anne Brown, an anchor at Fox News Channel, and by Kathleen Biggins, a CBS Radio producer who is also the host of A Thousand Welcomes, WFUV's popular Saturday morning program of traditional Irish music. Mary Snow worked at both CNN and Al Jazeera, Marie Hickey is currently at Extra TV, and Mary Maguire worked at The Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Maura Monahan and Tara Cuzzi — both former hosts — are the program's producers, working with the hosts on the music, booking interviews with figures in the Irish community, and developing new features.
Current Hosts: Matt Cuzzi and Lauren McNamara
Matt Cuzzi is from Montrose, New York and has family roots in County Kerry and County Tyrone. Listening to Ceol na nGael on Sunday afternoons has been a tradition in Matt’s family that started with his grandmother and grandfather, and Matt has fond memories of hearing his sister Tara on the program when she was a Fordham student. “As soon as I became a Fordham student, I knew I wanted to become involved in Ceol na nGael and keep the tradition alive in my family,” Matt says. He is excited to be able to share his favorite Irish songs and tunes with listeners every Sunday.
Lauren McNamara is from Pearl River, New York, and has family connections in counties Louth, Leitrim, Longford, Kilkenny, and Roscommon. Lauren entered the world of Irish music by playing the fiddle at the age of seven, and singing along with her father to bands like Shilelagh Law, The Narrowbacks, and The Pogues. Of course, she listened to Ceol na nGael on Sundays with her great grandmother. Lauren is thrilled to now be a part of the WFUV community; she says “It is one thing to hear the music every Sunday, but it is another thing entirely to be the one behind the music that creates such long-lasting memories in the homes and hearts of listeners.”
Ceol na nGael Hosts (Present to Past):
- Lauren McNamara
- Matt Cuzzi
- Allie Small
- Maggie Peknic
- Patrick Breen
- Ryan Slattery
- Megan Townsend
- Shannon Spillane
- Megan Scully
- Tara Cuzzi
- Colleen Taylor
- Kerri Gallagher
- Kevin Quinn
- Ashling Colton
- Maura Monahan
- Maggie Dolan
- Liz Noonan
- Deirdre McGuinness
- Frank McCaughey
- Meaghan O'Rourke
- Jen Croke
- Deirdre Hogan
- Jean-Marie Woods
- Marianna McGillicuddy
- Eileen Fitzsimons
- Eileen Byrne
- Michelle Gillan
- Mary Anne Grimes
- Eileen Duffy
- Mike Donahue
- Patty Ann Browne
- Kathleen Biggins
- Mary Snow
- Mary Fogarty
- Gerry Lavin
- Marie Hickey
- Ann Bowen
- Helen O'Donnell
- Helen Jonsen
- Peter Daly
- Mary Maguire
- Gerry Murphy
Ceol na nGael Producers (Present to Past):
- Tara Cuzzi
- Kim McCarthy
- Maura Monahan
- Maggie Dolan
- Liz Noonan
- Meaghan O'Rourke
- Jen Croke
Irish musicians understand just how special Ceol na nGael is. According to singer Cathie Ryan, "Ceol na nGael reconnects us to our roots and reinforces our values as a community. There are millions of us in the tri-state area, but Ceol na nGael, with its music, news reports, and community bulletin boards, makes us a small village."
The origin story of Ceol na nGael as told by co-founder Mary Maguire: "Gerry proposed doing the show as part of the fundraising marathon the station did each January. At that time, in 1974, WFUV was only on the air from 4 p.m. to midnight, and they needed more programming for the week-long, 24-hour marathon. We planned to do one hour, and the phones exploded — it was the first FM, non-commercial Irish music show, and we segued from one song to another to keep the focus on the music. Listeners responded with hundreds of pledges. Several musicians stopped by. We stayed on the air for four hours until I had to go to my waitressing job. The program director said, 'You’re coming back next week!' and Ceol na nGael was born."